With self-publishing, the author do not just write the articles, he is also responsible for the proofreading, editing, publishing, cover design and the layout. If unable to finish or do these duties, the self-published author could outsource or get somebody to do the task for him. Self-publishing is a jam-packed responsibility, but its rewards can be big in the end.
Some writers who prefer self-publishing would often try to do everything on their own, it is okay as long as you have the knowledge and expertise. But some writers, even if they fail miserably in the field like creating the page layout, would still try to do things on their own. This could be a costly mistake. The book can either appear unattractive or unprofessional.
If you are planning to do you own page layout for the book, then here are some pointers.
• Size
You would have to chose the size of your book first. The style that you would be using on your book should be compatible with the size of the book. A school yearbook is usually an 8.5 inch by 11 inch while a pocketbook will be smaller in size. Make sure that you would do sufficient research on what book size will be compatible with your manuscript.
• Margins and Spacing
The good thing about margins is that they could make your book easy to read. They have certain impact on the text that makes them easy on the eyes. You would have to make sure that the margins are balanced, how do you achieve that. Whenever you are setting the margins for the book, add an additional 1/8 inches on the side where the book will be binded.
Spaces are also good to the eye. But you would also have to be careful in using spaces. There are writers who would use spaces to convey something. So pay attention whenever you are using spaces between your paragraphs and other sections of the book. Character spacing is also important, lines which are compressed makes it look very heavy. An average line usually contains about 50 to 60 characters. Characters would involve the letters, numbers, spaces and punctuation marks. A page usually contains about 250 words.
• Font Size and Style
Make sure that you will a font style that would be easy on the eyes of the reader. But be conscious when picking out fonts, some fonts would require additional printing cost. Aside from that you do not use Comic Sans MS as a font when you are writing about a historical account. You would have to choose a font that will also be suitable with the content of your book. If you are unsure of what kind of font to use, then you can check books. Pull out a book from your shelf or bookstores.
Aside from that, you would also have to make sure that the font size will also be readable. Most publishers would use the size 11 or 12 since it is better for people who are using reading glasses.
• Colors and Photos
When using colors in the book, avoid the monotonous color scheme. You can play with contrasting color to make the images captivating. If you will be incorporating photos, make sure that they are aligned with the text. You do not want it to look as if you just pasted it. Be conscious with the size of the picture and the number of pictures you will be putting in your book. If it is a novel, then you do not want to look like a picture book.
Whatever style you use in your book, make sure that it is uniform all throughout. You do not want it to be constantly varying based on your mood. With self-publishing, you do not have the luxury of publishing houses doing everything for you. But just think about the control you have over your book and at the same time the profits you will be getting from it.
If you have decided to go for self-publishing, then you have to prepared to handle everything. A self-published author would have to deal with different aspects of book production, from writing and editing up to marketing and distributing the books. It is a jam-packed job and you need to be prepared to handle that.
In addition to that, you will also need to prepare yourself against prejudices. Self-published authors are often mistaken as good publishing houses “rejects.” Therefore, there are some people who view self-published book second-rated. It is up to you to prove them wrong! There are writing tips that you can do to help them change their minds.
The first tip is to set expectations that are achievable. Do not expectations that you know are beyond what you can do. There is a fine line separating wishful thinking and realistic goal-setting. Do no expect that you will get rich because of your book sales. There are a lot of people who could be writing the same topic as your do. Competition is tough. You can choose to write something you are passionate about. Interest can be a great inspiration for effective writing.
Readers lose interest if your book is disorganized and events are disengaged. Organization is the key. To make the book flow and the book organized, then prepare for writing an outline. You can decide on the major areas that you would like to focus or highlight on your book. These major areas could be the chapters itself. When writing the chapters, make sure that you give then good titles, titles that will grab the reader’s attention easily.
Also to keep your book organized, you can use sub-headings and bulleted points. This would be easy for the reader’s eyes and at the same systematic. If you would like to use pictures or illustrations in your book, make sure that they fit in the style and at the same time they do nod disrupt the flow of the book. Photographs and illustrations are meant to increase the reader’s understanding and supplement the text, not to distract the readers from it.
Good writers rarely do marathon writing. Marathon writing would not make you finish a good material in a short period of time. Sure thing, there are some writers that may find this style effective for them. But it is not a good style for everybody. Writers would mostly do short writing time every day.
Another thing that writers should be aware and avoid is the editing whenever you see something wrong. This can be called premature editing. Save editing for the end. This is a practice that most successful writers do. They would keep the momentum going and save the editing for later.
Another thing that you can do to make everything easy to the eyes is all about the format. Make sure that the words are not compressed. Do not put too many words on a line. Normally it would contain about 50 to 60 characters, spaces included. About 250 words per page would be enough.
Also use spaces adequately. Nothing is more terrifying than reading a page where everything is text, text, text and no spaces at all. But be conscious of using spaces. They can signify something, depending on what is written.
A writer who will be taking advantage of self-publishing may be doing the tasks alone or hire somebody to help him, but he should never detach himself from others. There are writers who would finish writing their manuscript faster if they have the support of their loved ones and family.
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